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UN appeals for humanitarian assistance to South Sudan

The United Nations Mission in South Sudan (UNMISS) is appealing for humanitarian assistance as recent clashes in the capital Juba have increased the number of displaced people in its compound by 8,000.

The facility is now housing close to 36,000 people, UNMISS said.

“We have faced a number of logistical and movement challenges with getting our trucks out to get water, also a number of the UN agencies, humanitarian partners, their locations that have warehouses have all been looted, so these present all sorts of obstacles and challenges in getting food,” said Shantal Persuade,” a UNMISS spokesperson.

Mary Nyikal Pur, one of these residents, said life in the compound is like a prison sentence. She has to wait for food, water and daily necessities from the UN.

“When the fighting started, my husband and my brother were killed. I now have five children to take care of. I live with no hope, no one is helping me take care of these children,” said Pur.

Although forces loyal to President Salva Kiir and his First Vice President Riek Machar have observed a ceasefire, many of the displaced people in the compound still refuse to be convinced the fighting has ended, as long as Machar returns to Juba to work together with President Kiir.

Lual Garwich, another refugee in the compound, appealed to both leaders to control their armed forces.

“A child is killed, a woman is killed, a pregnant woman is killed, women are raped, young girls are raped, what kind of government are you, if you want to be in politics, you shouldn’t do these kinds of things,” he said.